Bundy struggles with command in loss

BALTIMORE -- Wednesday's outing was not the best for Orioles rookie Dylan Bundy.

Tabbed to get the start in place of Chris Tillman, who was pushed back to Saturday due to a sore right shoulder, Bundy allowed a career-high five earned runs over 4 1/3 innings in a rain-shortened 8-1 loss to the Red Sox.

BALTIMORE -- Wednesday's outing was not the best for Orioles rookie Dylan Bundy.

Tabbed to get the start in place of Chris Tillman, who was pushed back to Saturday due to a sore right shoulder, Bundy allowed a career-high five earned runs over 4 1/3 innings in a rain-shortened 8-1 loss to the Red Sox.

"Good offensive team. He made a couple mistakes, but I think it was more about them than him," Orioles manager Buck Showalter said of Bundy, who allowed nine hits -- including two homers -- and two walks with a pair of strikeouts. "I thought the command was a little off. He got some counts he normally doesn't get in."

The outing was the shortest for Bundy since his first Major League start on July 17, which was a 3 1/3-inning outing on a strict pitch count as the team slowly stretched him out. The righty, who has been a bright spot for an underwhelming O's rotation, was coming off back-to-back quality starts and had his three-game win streak snapped.

So, what was the difference?

"They hit everything, I guess" Bundy said, laughing. "I don't know. I threw some good pitches and they still hit 'em. So it's just one of those nights. Just got to learn from it and get better from here."

Bundy also turned his right ankle in the third inning, falling on the mound as he tried to break toward first base on David Ortiz's roller for the second out of the inning. Head athletic trainer Richie Bancells came out and Bundy threw a warmup pitch before staying in the game.

"It's fine," Bundy said of his ankle, which wasn't taped postgame. "Obviously we will see how it is tomorrow. I was able to pitch after that, so should be fine."

Bundy, who saw his ERA climb to 3.36, also allowed a two-run homer to Sandy Leon in his fifth and final frame. While Bundy was able to get out of the second inning mostly unscathed, allowing one run, he loaded the bases and never looked crisp all night. Boston, a good fastball-hitting team, has now won six straight.

"It just makes you focus more on locating better and know you can't get away with the fastball down the middle 0-0," Bundy said of his game plan against a hot club like the Red Sox. "Those guys came out hacking and they hit the ball well."